The Janus Point, Julian Barbour
The Janus Point, Julian Barbour
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The Janus Point
A New Theory of Time

Author: Julian Barbour

Narrator: James Langton

Unabridged: 13 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/25/2021

Synopsis

In a universe filled by chaos and disorder, one physicist makes the radical argument that the growth of order drives the passage of time -- and shapes the destiny of the universe.Time is among the universe's greatest mysteries. Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backward, does it only go forward? Physicists have long appealed to the second law of thermodynamics, held to predict the increase of disorder in the universe, to explain this. In The Janus Point, physicist Julian Barbour argues that the second law has been misapplied and that the growth of order determines how we experience time. In his view, the big bang becomes the "Janus point," a moment of minimal order from which time could flow, and order increase, in two directions. The Janus Point has remarkable implications: while most physicists predict that the universe will become mired in disorder, Barbour sees the possibility that order -- the stuff of life -- can grow without bound.A major work of physics, The Janus Point will transform our understanding of the nature of existence.

About Julian Barbour

Julian Barbour is the author of the highly regarded The Discovery of Dynamics and the bestseller The End of Time. He received his PhD in physics from the University of Cologne in 1968. He is a past visiting professor of physics at the University of Oxford and lives on the edge of the scenic Cotswolds, UK.

Reviews

Goodreads review by 8stitches 9lives on December 05, 2020

In a universe filled by chaos and disorder, one physicist makes the radical argument that the growth of order drives the passage of time -- and shapes the destiny of the universe. Time is among the universe's greatest mysteries. Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backwar......more

Goodreads review by Josh on February 11, 2022

Dnf at 65% Thanks to NetGalley for an earc of this. I ended up listening to the audiobook. In short, the book is overly esoteric. It's honestly hard to imagine this is actually intended for the lay reader. The basic idea is fascinating: the big bang as imagine it, actually occurred in both directions......more

Goodreads review by Kim on April 03, 2021

I think I get it!......more

Goodreads review by Paige on August 26, 2023

I should make it clear that I rate books according to how much I enjoy reading them, not how well I understand them. The challenge of trying to think using new frames and concepts was enjoyable, as was laughing out loud at times because of how far away I was from understanding what the author was tal......more

Goodreads review by Van-Anh on April 06, 2021

The Janus Point is a provocative, new take on the origins of time and the fate of the universe. Today, most physics believe that the universe as we know it began with the Big Bang, but there may be a different possibility - that the Big Bang wasn't the beginning of time, but merely a very special po......more

Quotes

"The origin of the arrow of time is arguably the most important conceptual problem in cosmology, and the prospect that it can be solved in a universe where time flows 'backward' in the far past is as exciting as it is provocative. In this engaging book, Julian Barbour conveys this excitement admirably, complete with just a bit more detail than professional physicists usually share with the public." —Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to Here"Julian Barbour's infectious enthusiasm for the big ideas in physics is addictive. He has a complete mastery of the history of ideas yet a remarkable lightness and clarity in explaining what are profound concepts. The Janus Point is controversial and gripping, an extraordinary introduction to his view of the universe." —Pedro G. Ferreira, author of The Perfect Theory "Julian Barbour has no peer when it comes to explaining scientific ideas in a way that is accessible without being simplistic. For good measure he has a talent for using quotes from Shakespeare and other literary sources in a manner that actually helps to elucidate key points. In The Janus Point he tackles subject matter that is notoriously challenging even to scientists, and explains it in a way that gave me new insights and understanding even though I studied these topics in a classroom a long time ago. This is a fitting sequel to his earlier work and helps to pull together several big ideas that some of us have been watching with fascination for decades." —Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash

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